Smoking and the Risk of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to collate evidence of the effects of smoking on the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer. DATA SOURCES: We searched 4 electronic databases (from inception to October 2010) and scanned the reference lists of the publications retrieved to identify eligible comparative epidemiologic studies. STUDY SELECTION: Titles, abstracts, and full text were assessed independently by 2 authors against prespecified inclusion/exclusion criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted and quality was assessed independently by 2 authors using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. DATA SYNTHESIS: Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models. Results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2. Twenty-five studies were included. Smoking was significantly associated with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.15-2.01; I2 = 64%; 6 studies). Smoking was not significantly associated with basal cell carcinoma (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.82-1.09; I2 = 59%; 14 studies) or nonmelanoma skin cancer (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.21-1.79; I2 = 34%; 2 studies). CONCLUSION: This study clearly demonstrates that smoking increases the risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma; however, smoking does not appear to modify the risk of basal cell carcinoma.
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A meta-analysis showed that smoking was associated with SCC, whose main risk factor is UV exposure.
“Moreover, a meta‐analysis58 showed that smoking was associated with SCC, whose main risk factor is UV exposure.59”
From The impact of airborne pollution on skin (2019) · cites this paper as [58]
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- Authors
- Leonardi-Bee, J., Ellison, T., & Bath-Hextall, F.
- ORCID
- Bath-Hextall, Fiona
- Venue
- Archives of Dermatology
- Publisher
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Published
- 2012-08-01
- Volume
- 148
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 939-46
- ISSN
- 0003-987X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2013980032
- Cited by
- 109
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 4.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Archives of Dermatology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Cancer Research UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- British Heart Foundation
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Otorhinolaryngology › Head and Neck Cancer Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Keywords
- smoking, non-melanoma skin cancer, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, cancer risk, tobacco use
- MeSH terms
- Basal Cell Carcinoma, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell, Humans, Skin Neoplasms, Smoking, Confidence Intervals, Odds Ratio
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